Spain Eases Immigration Rules to Address Labor Shortages in Tourism and Agriculture

Currently, Spain is facing a labor shortage in many sectors, including tourism and agriculture. This is the reason that justifies this reform adopted in the Council of Ministers, which provides for "several major measures" aimed at "encouraging regular, orderly and safe immigration", assured the Minister of Social Security José Luis Escriva.

These measures will allow Moroccan and other foreign nationals present on Spanish territory for more than two years, and without papers, to regularize their situation. They are thus offered the opportunity to legally have a job or benefit from training in sectors where there are many unfilled jobs.

This reform is also good news for foreign students, who will be able to work up to 30 hours a week during their studies, integrate the job market after their training, without being obliged to live in Spain for three years beforehand.

In a press release, the Ministry of Social Security states that "these measures will improve the Spanish migration model and its procedures, often slow and inadequate, and which generate long periods of irregularity" for immigrants, "with high social and economic costs" for Spain.

As surprising as it may seem, Spain is facing a labor shortage in sectors such as hotels, agriculture, construction or transport, even though the country has one of the highest unemployment rates in the euro area (13.65%).